The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-04-23
Professional Beggars

Speetat Correspondence Of The Sunday Ne,os.
could not really forget him, as he
made an impression on me. 1t was a
tall, slender, shambling figure with flow
ing light brown beard, clothes fan Eng
llsh cut that were the worse for wear,
that ambled up to passers-by and in a
feeble voice muttered: Kindly give me
bit of silver; I'm sick and hungry
and then shot away in the crowd after
feebly calculating: 'Thankee SIR
whether repulsed or rewarded. The
furtive glances and caution character.
zing this genteel meDdicant indicated
that he was aware that the police are
ordered to arrest all beggars detected
in the act.
The street beggar has always interest
ed me since one in Madison square con-
fided to me that it was easier begging
than working; and there was an air Of
gentility about this person that enlisted
my interest and excited my curiosity.
found by inquiry that the police had
description of him but had never been
able to arrest him, as he was always alert
tor their presence when soliciting aims.
He seldom appeared in the same locali-
ty two days in succession, but at inter-
walls of a fortnight or more; and had it
not been that his assumed feebleness of
voice belied his physique should have
concluded he was an invalid indeed,
and not able to be about in all weather.
l attributed the fact that he generally
appeared towards dusk to his desire to
avoid attention as well as police inter-
ference, less likely in the shadows and
hurrying crowd at that hour than in the
broad daylight of the fashionable prom
enade. always make it a rule to give
beggars something ON tt if ,only a conRar.
cluded that my conjecture that ba Con-
a superior man with a nIstofy was cor
rect. AS have said, l could not read
lily forget him and looked in vain for
him for some days, but as he did not
reappear in the locality of Broadway
and Twenty-third street, l concluded
he had sought other fields of Logging.
If the personality had not made such
an impression on me l should not have
identified the man when found him
seated at table in Third avenue beer
saloon one evening when I chanced to
enter for liquid refreshment. Recog-
nizing him dropped into chair near
him, and after glancing over the even
ing paper, I ventured to comment
upon the news by way of engaging him
in conversation. He was evidently not
inclined to be talkative, but, on the con-
trary, quite reserved, with a dignity that
did not comport with the surroundings
or my knowledge of him. was not to
be discouraged, however, and finding
that the currently news did not interest
him, I ventured to speak of the attrac-
tions of the city to stranger like my
self. The statement that was stran
ger caused him to lose some of his re-
straint, and he admitted that the city
was interesting to stranger yet was not
a great city like London. l then OBJ
served that there was an English accent
| in his speech, not the generally accept
ed cockney, but the well-bred English
man. There was not the slightest in
clination towards friendliness on his part,
and his manner was plain that he talked
simply not to be rude and would much
rather be left alone. I, however, was
not easily to be discouraged, and ratified
on so pleasantly that finally he became
quite cordial, the characterizing reserve
wearing off gradually. His conversa-
ton was that of man who had received
a common school education and had
seen considerably of the world, and my
interest in him, with my knowledge OF
his career on the street, increased. L
assumed that while in hard luck because
of non-receiptal of remittances he had
taken to street begging to get along. |
went so far as to invite him to 60 down
to the Peoples Theatre. He hesitated
and declined, but when told him the
attraction was sensational melodrama,
entitled ssTaken from Life" the scene
of which was laid in London, he said
that he would go on condition that he
was allowed to pay his own way, English
style. He observed that he should have
TO change his clothes and take his din
ner. "Hum-if you haven't dined
won't you dine with me7" l replied
on condition he would allow me to pay
nv share. He said dinner was ordered
in his room above stairs, and that there
would be enough for two; he added tha
he had room upstairs and had merely
stepped in to get glass of beer, as HI
had been walking all the afternoon, an(
was weary Che did not say he had beer
on begging tour, but 1 assumed a
much, and thought it would be a gooe
Joke to dine and go to the theatre witt
a professional street begger, especial.
one as intelligent as my newly.foun'
friend). He led the way througha side
door into the hall adjoining, and theme
up three flights of stairs to door, thrust
ing open which a neatly furnished roor
was revealed. He ushered me in wit
the courtesy of one to the manner born
offering me chair. He rang a bel
and, excusing himself, disappeared in
closet between his own and the fror
room. A waiter from the saloon below
responded to the bell, and the muff1e
voice of my friend, in the act of wash
ing his face, ordered dinner for two